Obituary of Barbara A. (Hart) Burke

Barbara Ann (Hart) Burke, 86, of Peabody passed away peacefully on June 15, 2019 at Salem Hospital surrounded by her children. She was the loving wife of the late Frederick A. Burke. She was born in Lynn, the daughter of the late James F. Hart and Margaret E. (Walsh) Hart both of Lynn. She graduated from St. Mary’s Girls High School in Lynn and lived in Peabody for 60 years. She is survived by her four children, Richard Burke and his wife Carol of Lynnfield, MA, Barbara Orsino and Chris Connolly of Peabody MA, Edward Burke and his wife Elizabeth of Stratham, NH and Marie McGee and her husband Steven of Bedford, NH. She is survived by her fourteen adorable grandchildren: Aidan and Kaleigh Burke of Lynnfield, Kimberly Igo and husband Daniel of Franklin, MA, Sarah Kramer and fiancé Kyle Appert of Salem, MA, Matthew Kramer of Los Angeles, CA, Alexandra Orsino of South Boston, MA and Michaela Orsino of Derry, NH, Julia, Benjamin, Caroline and Michael Burke of Stratham, NH and Colleen, Andrew and Sean McGee of Bedford, NH. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews She is survived by her sister Marguerite M. Ouellette of Beverly, MA. She was predeceased by her four brothers James T. Hart of Marblehead, MA, Richard Hart and Edward J. Hart of Lynn, MA and Joseph M. Hart of Ipswich, MA and one sister Marion E. Cotter of Lynn, MA. Barbara was an active member of St. Ann’s church and had served on the Ladies Sodality Committee and other volunteer roles. She enjoyed many activities including: polka dancing at St. Michael’s in Lynn on Saturday nights, relished her monthly luncheons with her high school classmates, appreciated the close relationships she had with her neighbors, and cherished all the special moments with her family. For the past 55 years, Barbara spent her summer months at her home away from home at Ossipee Lake Camping Area in Effingham, NH. At “camp” she loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and many friends who became part of her extended family. She was a staple at potluck where she always supplied her famous baked goods, namely marble squares and knox blocks. She was always seen by the campfire late at night and at the social events during the day. Prior to raising her family, she worked as a Customer Service Representative at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Boston, MA. After proudly raising her family, she worked at Hastings Tapley Insurance Company in Danvers, MA as an insurance agent. She had unwavering love and commitment to her family. She enjoyed getting together for the holidays and spending quality time with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Barbara made her famous cookies and pies for every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. She will be remembered as a loving, caring and extremely faithfully devoted woman who would consistently place others before herself. Visiting hours will be held at Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St Peabody, MA on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 from 4:00 to 8:00pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 11:00am at St. Ann’s Church 136 Lynn St in Peabody, MA. Following the mass, her burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery 175 Broadway Malden, MA. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Barbara Burke may be made to the Roger B. Trask Adult Day Health Center at the Torigian Senior Center at 75R Central St, Peabody, MA 01960 or Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center. Gifts can be made online at give.massgeneral.org/northshorecancercenter or mail to the Mass General Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114-1101.